National Asylum Developments Database

 

The National Asylum Developments Database presents legislative, institutional and policy developments related to asylum since 2018.

Searches can be narrowed down by:

  • Country
  • Year
  • Type of development: legislative, institutional or policy 
  • Thematic area: access to procedure, access to information, legal assistance and representation, interpretation services, special procedures, procedures at first instance, reception of applicants for international protection, detention, procedures at second instance, country of origin information, statelessness in the asylum context, content of protection, return of former applicants, resettlement and humanitarian admission programmes.

Details on each development and further analysis can be consulted in the Asylum Report series.
 

Types of policies and practices reported in the National Asylum Developments Database

The National Asylum Developments Database can be searched by institutional, legislative and policy changes. There are three types of policy developments:

Policies and practices related to the integrity of national asylum systems aim to swiftly identify unfounded asylum applications and ensure that financial, human and administrative resources are not dissipated on such claims. These measures involve efforts to rapidly establish an applicant’s identity, including age, country of origin, travel route and security concerns if any. These facts help to better assess the credibility of the applicant’s statements and determine whether beneficiaries of international protection are still in need of protection. The prevention of unintentional misuse of the asylum procedure and its integrity are also supported by the provision of information to asylum applicants and beneficiaries of international protection on their respective rights and obligations and related procedural arrangements.

Policies and practices that improve the efficiency of national asylum systems include digitalisation and the use of new technologies in the framework of asylum, prioritising or fast-tracking applications, the re-organisation of the procedure itself or implementing changes in the number of staff employed.

Policy and practice aiming to enhance the quality of national asylum systems contribute to increasing fairness, integrity and efficiency. Quality assurance systems, guidance materials and capacity-building measures typically pay off on the initial investment and efforts. The initiatives include staff training, revising existing guidance materials and monitoring the quality of the decisions delivered.

The database presents validated factual information and does not imply any endorsement from the European Commission or EUAA.

Flag Country Year Type of development Thematic area Development Source
France Flag France 2025 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance AMIF projects continued to pilot the use of AI tools, for example for document searches and to modernise OFPRA’s digital tools. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
France Flag France 2025 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection France undertook preparatory work, including stakeholder consultations, ahead of the planned conversion of emergency accommodation places into regular places within reception centres between January-April 2025. This transformation is scheduled to take place between 2026 and 2028. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
France Flag France 2025 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure France launched a call for expressions of interest to allocate 50 accommodation places within the national asylum reception system to applicants for international protection recognised as victim of trafficking in human beings or as women victims of violence. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
France Flag France 2025 Institutional Procedures at second and higher instances Two new territorial chambers of the National Court of Asylum opened in Nantes and Marseilles. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
France Flag France 2025 Policy Resettlement Resettlement and humanitarian admissions France committed to resettle 3,000 refugees from eight countries (Lebanon, Türkiye, Jordan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Chad, Cameroon and Rwanda) in 2025. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
France Flag France 2025 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The AGIR programme was fully deployed in mainland France to offer individualised support to beneficiaries of international protection for their integration. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
France Flag France 2025 Policy Resettlement Resettlement and humanitarian admissions New protocols were signed on the implementation of humanitarian corridors for Syrians and Iraqis from Lebanon. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Finland Flag Finland 2025 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection Amendments to the Aliens Act expanded the grounds to withdraw a residence permit due to a serious crime or security risk. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Finland Flag Finland 2025 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants Amendments to the Aliens Act introduced an obligation for persons subject to a return decision to cooperate with the authorities and depart voluntarily within a prescribed period. The time limit for a voluntary return may be extended on special grounds, subject to a EUR 100 administrative fee. The reform clarified that entry bans may be imposed through a separate and independent decision for individuals residing either in Finland or abroad, for a fixed duration or until further notice. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Finland Flag Finland 2025 Legislative Detention Amendments to the Aliens Act extended the maximum duration of detention for persons in the return procedure, for example when the person refuses to cooperate or to ensure public security. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Finland Flag Finland 2025 Legislative Access to procedure icon Access to procedure The Act on Temporary Measures to Combat Instrumentalised Migration was extended until December 2026. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Finland Flag Finland 2025 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The government proposed amendments to the Aliens Act to tighten permanent residence permit conditions by extending the required continuous residence from 4 to 6 years and adding language and work experience requirements. It allows earlier eligibility for those with higher education, high income or strong language skills combined with work experience. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Finland Flag Finland 2025 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection Amendments to the Aliens Act introduced a new ground to withdraw international protection. Depending on its duration and purpose, travel to the country of origin or to the country of previous permanent residence can result in a cessation of international protection. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Finland Flag Finland 2025 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection Amendments to the Aliens Act introduced stricter conditions for family reunification, such as a minimum age of 21 for both spouses when they are third-country nationals, a requirement of sufficient financial resources for parents reuniting with their unaccompanied child and a minimum 2-year residence for sponsors who have been granted international protection. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Finland Flag Finland 2025 Legislative Special procedures to assess protection needs Special procedures to assess protection needs The Aliens Act was amended to clarify that those who submit a subsequent application may not be allowed to continue residing in the country, pending the outcome of the application. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Finland Flag Finland 2025 Legislative Special procedures to assess protection needs Special procedures to assess protection needs Applicants who have submitted a subsequent application on grounds they themselves have caused may be granted subsidiary protection but not refugee status. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Finland Flag Finland 2025 Legislative Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Aliens Act was amended to allow applicants and their representatives to review the interview record over 2 weeks unless the complete report is reviewed on the spot. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Finland Flag Finland 2025 Policy Return of former applicants Return of former applicants The Finnish Immigration Service launched a pilot return centre in Vantaa. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Estonia Flag Estonia 2025 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance A project funded through the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) was implemented to align to the Pact workflows related to responsibility-sharing and vulnerability assessments. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Estonia Flag Estonia 2025 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection A digital case management tool was developed by the Social Insurance Board and launched within the Social Services and Benefits Data Register (STAR) system to support social workers in linking needs assessments with personalised action plans. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Denmark Flag Denmark 2025 Legislative Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance The Aliens Act was aligned with CJEU judgment C-19/21, extending the right to appeal before the Refugee Appels Board for unaccompanied minors in the Dublin procedure. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Denmark Flag Denmark 2025 Policy Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance The Danish Immigration Office prepared guidance on the appeal time limit, right to appeal and legal aid in the Dublin procedure, in cooperation with the Danish Refugee Council and the Refugee Appeals Board. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Denmark Flag Denmark 2025 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The Special Law providing temporary residence permits to evacuees from Afghanistan was repealed. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Denmark Flag Denmark 2025 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection Amendments to the Aliens Act broadened the scope when a foreigners’ residence rights may be ended. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Denmark Flag Denmark 2025 Legislative Interpretation services Interpretation services A legislative amendment prohibited people under 18 years to act as interpreters in official communication with national authorities in all types of administrative procedures. EUAA Asylum Report 2026